Pietro Colnago writes a letter to the Lombardy basketball community: “We want to change the system”
Lombardy basketball is set to renew its leadership. The event is scheduled for September 27 in Milan, when the regional clubs’ assembly will meet to elect the new president and the executive board of the CRL. Those elected will serve for the 24 months remaining until the natural conclusion of the four-year Olympic cycle, scheduled for the fall of 2028.
The race will pit Enrico Ragnolini, current vice president of the regional CONI who previously led the committee on Via Piranesi from 2005 to 2013, against Pietro Colnago, longtime SkySport commentator and former national federal councilor from 2000 to 2004.
“Good day to the entire Lombardy basketball community. With the elections approaching, I wanted to share my personal feelings with you—feelings that go beyond the outcome of the vote. My team—of whom I am extremely proud and whom I wouldn’t trade for anyone else in the world—and I embarked on this adventure with the same mindset we had when we were players: to play a game all the way through without any regrets. We’ve done just that; we’ve faced a reality we didn’t know and never liked, we’ve run our course, and we’ll walk out of that room with our heads held high, looking everyone in the eye—something I don’t think everyone can do.”
“We want to change the system, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the clubs that have supported us, showing their trust and their desire not to remain in the current state of affairs, for having had the courage to hold their heads high, even in the face of provocations of every kind, and not to have buried their heads in the sand like ostriches. We all know what kind of elections these will be—there’s no point in hiding it—but know this: since we are not politicians and have no intention of ever becoming one, we are not bound by chains or handcuffs to chairs and positions controlled by others; we owe nothing to anyone, but we want to play by clear rules. We’re not doing this for money, but out of gratitude toward a sport that has given us so much and to which we want to give back everything we can. We’ll do this from the very first day after the elections, regardless of the outcome, because this is our commitment.”
“I’ll conclude by saying that none of us has ever held office within the federation; that’s why we keep repeating that we are the new force that wants to break down the system. And on that note, I’ll wrap up by urging the entire Lombardy basketball community to vote with awareness, reason, and passion. See you on Sunday.”
